A RETURN to full capacity at Kerry/ West Cork adult ADHD services is not happening quickly enough, according to Social Democrats leader, Holly Cairns and West Cork councillor Isobel Towse.

Deputy Cairns pointed out that Kerry/West Cork Adult ADHD services are still not accepting referrals for new assessment from GPs or from the Specialist Mental Health Assessment Hub.

‘In the last quarter of 2024 capacity at the service decreased from 60% to 16% with zero ADHD diagnostic assessments being completed in the service for each of the months of October, November and December,’ said Deputy Cairns.

‘In 2024, the Kerry/ West Cork service had the lowest national year total for assessments, with just 41 completed. They currently have 139 people awaiting new adult ADHD assessments, with an average wait time of approximately two and half years.’

She said that based on a response to a parliamentary question which she submitted appointments have been made to fill staff vacancies in the service.

‘This is to be welcomed but the pace of return to a normal service is far too slow. While a permanent consultant psychiatrist has been in the post since the end of February of this year, a key vacancy remains at senior occupational therapist level, which has been unfilled since in August 2024.’

Deputy Cairns said that a candidate has been identified and is progressing through the appointment process but she has been told that there may be a delay of up to six months before the position is taken up due to existing commitments.

‘This will have left the service understaffed for over two years by the time the person is in place, resulting in an unmet demand which will inevitably push waiting times out further.’

Cllr Isobel Towse said that a local level she has been contacted by several people seeking access to ADHD assessments.

‘These people have been left in limbo by the lack of capacity as have their GPs with little clarity on how referrals are being dealt with. I have raised this issue in the past through a motion at Cork County Council and while the appointment of a senior occupational therapist is of course welcome, this could still be months away, which is little use to people in need of help
today.